Chapter 85: This Young Master Has Lodging Problems

Chapter 85: This Young Master Has Lodging Problems

Whether it was Earth or this new superpowered world, it remained a fact that when you needed to sell your valuables for quick cash, someone would undercut the price on you.

Oh no. You are not telling me a Mortal-rank artifact necklace is only worth 1000 Gold taels.

We also have to make a profit here, sir. The owner of the pawnshop Xie Jin led him to was very skilled. Being able to say so much bullshit with a straight face was impressive.

Thats what marking things up is for, isnt it? Im asking you to give me retail price. How much you want to charge after that isnt my problem.

At the end of the day, its only a Mortal-rank necklace; people will only pay so much for it.

Chen Haoran placed his hands on the counter and leaned in. The shop owner didnt move, but he could feel a slight spike in his qi. Seventh-Layer. Respectable. Chen Haoran waved his hand over the ruby necklace. How many pieces of artifact jewelry have you seen before?

Ive seen them before.

Really? I cant suppose it was too many. Jewelry is already a vanity item, artifact jewelry even more so. Youll already be selling these for a premium. He held up four fingers. This isnt the only piece I have either. If you think 1000 is the price, you need to pay to make a profit, thats fine. Ill just take these and go find someone who can sell them better.

The shopkeeper didnt say anything, and Chen Haoran swept the necklace off the table and began walking to the door without another word, making sure the ruby caught every light on his way out.

Show me the other pieces. If theyre the same level as the necklace, Ill give you 1200 for each.

Chen Haoran smiled. Make that 15, and you can have them all.

Youre better at that than I thought, Xie Jin said as they walked out of the store 7.5 thousand taels richer.

What? Haggling?

Xie Jin shrugged. You struck me more as someone who has money than someone who makes it.

Its all about who can bullshit better. Chen Haoran thumbed the golden banknotes hed received, paper redeemable at any Imperial-approved moneylender or bank. It was apparently the norm to use them in transactions that moved large amounts of money so as to not be stuck trying to carry thousands of taels. Even storage bags had their limits, after all. It was a problem Chen Haoran never had to deal with, considering he carried all his money in the reward space or else had other people deal with it for him. And Im pretty good at bullshitting if I do say so myself.

He didnt even know how rare artifact jewelry was. He threw that line out on a limb, given how little hed seen of it in Clearsprings City and got lucky, though it was more likely the amount that convinced the merchant in the end.

Xie Jin yawned and looked at the descending sun. Now that youre the rich friend again, you can pay for the inn.

What do you mean? Were not turning in yet. Theres money to be made.

But youve already sold all the jewelry.

No, I only sold five pieces.

Xie Jin slowly blinked while processing the statement. What?

The woman hesitated, her eyes locked onto Xie Jin. If you're fine with one more guest.

Xie Jin brightened. Thank you, Sister Jia.

Sister Jia stood out of the way and let them into the house. Casting a curious glance at Phelps. The inside of the house was decorated to the brim. Colorful carpets stitched with fluid lines and dragonflies covered the floors save for the center, where a cooking fire crackled. Along the walls ran lattice frames crawling with vines that bloomed with yellow, red, and turquoise flowers. Their sweet scent filled the room. Hanging from the ceiling were three delicately carved wooden cages holding singing crickets. A single doorway covered with hanging beads led further into the house.

Sister Jia pulled out some cushions, and they sat on the floor before a low table. She pulled a pot of boiling water from the cooking fire and poured cups for them, using a ladle to scoop out flower petals and orange peels and drop them in the cups.

Chen Haoran accepted it with a bow. Thank you.

Xie Jin patted him on the back. Sister Jia, this is my good friend Chen Haoran. We met while I was up north.

Sister Jia nodded her head. Theres no need to be so formal. Any friend of Little Jin is a friend in this house.

Little Jin?

Xie Jin clicked his tongue. I was hoping that with Brother Ang out, that wouldnt have been brought up. He took a sip of scalding water without flinching. Where is he anyway?

Chen Haoran tested the water with his tongue, only to immediately pull it back. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xie Jin hiding a smirk. Ass. He cycled his qi and took a large swig.

Hes had some business to take care of outside the city. Sister Jia said. Hell be sorry he wasnt here to greet you. You didnt tell us you were going North, though?

Xie Jin grimaced. Things happened, and I ended up there.

Oh? Did Xie Jin not tell anybody he went to take the Palace Exams?

There was a sudden knocking at the door. Chen Haoran instinctively cast his sense out. Ninth-Layer?

Is that your other guest? Xie Jin asked.

Yes, Sister Jia said. She did not look Xie Jin in the eyes and rushed over to open the door.

Chen Haoran placed his hand on his scimitar. From where he sat, he saw a bare ankle with a black bone bangle wrapped around it. Xie Jin sat up with a curse and leapt back. Chen Haoran shot up at the same time. A centipede slid through the door between Sister Jias legs faster than they could react. In an instant, it unnaturally lengthened, one end looping around Xie Jins body and wrapping up his arm, the other coiled around Chen Haorans hand and hilt and left it pinned. He flexed his qi to pull back, but the centipede extended again and wrapped around his neck. The tail end of the centipede twisted and turned into another head, its knife-like mandibles snapped near his jugular. Phelps screeched and flew towards the centipede, but his claws bounced off its carapace, and he quickly found himself wrapped up and hanging near Chen Haoran.

Everyone froze.

Their assailant stepped into the house, taking a moment to remove her shoes before walking onto the carpets. Chen Haorans eyes were once again drawn to the bangle around her ankle. He dragged his eyes up to another black bangle around her wrist. Up further still, past her silks and black bones, Chen Haoran found his breath taken. Two black eyes filled with a predator's mirth at seeing trapped prey stared at them.

Bao Si, Xie Jin bit out. His sleeve bulged and struggled, the Gu within trying to break out.

Xie Jin, my love, Bao Si said. Have you come back to propose?